The growing Starbucks Union strike, which has mobilized baristas across 60 locations nationwide, has yet to reach Wyoming, K2 Radio reports.
While employees in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle began a coordinated five-day walkout on December 20, Starbucks workers in Wyoming have remained on the sidelines of the protest.
This isn’t the first time labor issues have touched Starbucks locations in the state. Back in 2023, employees at a downtown Cheyenne Starbucks went on strike to advocate for their right to unionize. Their grievances mirrored many of those now being voiced by striking workers across the US, including calls for better wages and improved working conditions.
However, no announcements have been made about current participation from unionized Starbucks employees in Cheyenne or elsewhere in Wyoming.
The ongoing strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, has spread to cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, and Portland, Oregon. Workers accuse Starbucks of failing to honor its commitment to reach a labor agreement this year, citing hundreds of unresolved complaints filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Our hope is that [Starbucks] will come back to the bargaining table,” said Kai Krawczeniuk, a striking worker. “We want livable wages so we can afford rent, groceries, and just to live. Right now, we’re struggling, and it’s not okay for this company to be making billions while its employees can barely afford rent.”
Starbucks has countered by highlighting its wage and benefit packages. The company reports an average hourly wage of $18 for its employees, with additional benefits raising the total compensation to a potential $30 per hour. Starbucks has also committed to annual raises of at least 1.5% for unionized workers.
The company, however, has emphasized that barista positions were never intended to be full-time jobs or career paths, casting doubt on whether the role will ever offer a living wage.
